Crate lidding machine



Jan. 25, 1938. E. TwoMLEY 2,106,543

l i CRATE LIDDING MACHINE y Filed Aug.' 1o, 19:54 4 sheets-sheet 1l Herb@rtl/2f TuomZey Jan. 25, 193s. H, E- TWOMLEY y 2,106,543

CRATE LIDDING MACHINE Filed Aug. l0, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 By l /Lm Jan.425, 1938. H E, 'TWOMLEY y 2,106,543

CRATE LIDDING MACHINE Filed Aug. 10, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 cY-" O-Inventor Herbert E'. Twozneg Jan. 25, 1938. H. E. TwoMLEY lCRATE!LIDDING MACHINE Filed Aug. 10, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Jan. 25,1938 UNITED STATES PATENT omen CRATE LIDDING MACHINE Application Augustio, 1934, serial No. 739,275

4 Claims.

My invention relates to crate lidding machines and has particularreference to a machine for applying lids, or covers, to containers,wherein the covers are formed of a plurality of separate boards, eachindividually secured to theco-ntainer.

In the art of packing certain vegetables,

fruits, and the like, it is common practice to ll containers, such asboxes or crates formed of Wood, and to place these boxes in machines forapplying lids or covers thereto. Certain types of crates or containersnow in general use for this purpose require that the covers be formed ofindividual strips of wood or slats, each of which is to be separatelyand individually secured to `the container. Even when the machines areadapted for the securing of covers to a particular kind of crate, (thatis to a crate or container for a particular kind of goods), the cratesor containers employed will vary considerably in size, and particularlyin width, so that in order to properly space the individual cover slatsover the containers of different sizes, it is necessary to adjust thenail driving mechanism to evenly space the same to fit one size ofcontainer or to lit another size of container.

It is therefore an object of my invention to provide a machine forapplying covers to containers in which the nailing mechanisms may bereadily adjusted to t diierent widths of containers.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine for applyingcovers to containers vof varying widths, in which the nail drivingmechanisms are mounted for movement relative to each other and areprovided with control means which when operated will evenly space thenail driving mechanisms throughout different widths to conform withdifferent widths of boxes.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine of the characterset forth in which a plurality of nail driving mechanisms are providedfor each end of the container or box to be covered and in which the naildriving mechanisms are mounted for movement toward and away from eachother to adapt them for varying widths of containers.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine for applyingcovers toboxes in` which individual groups of nailing mechanisms areprovided for each of the cover boardsand in which each of the groups ismounted for movement relative to the remaining groups and controlled toevenly space the groups in varying widths to adapt them for varyingwidths of containers.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from a study of thefollowing specifications, read in connection with the accompanyingdrawings,

wherein Fig. 1 is an elevational view of a machine for applyingindividual slats as covers for containers;

Fig. 2 is a detail horizontal sectional view taken along line II-II ofFig. 1;

Fig. 3 is av detail vertical sectional view, taken along line III-IIIlof Fig. 4, showing a portion of the machine` illustrating the mountingand operating means for theindividual nailing mechanisms;

Fig. 4 is a detail front elevational View of the nailing mechanisms andpositioning means for the same for 4one end of the box'or container; andY Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view taken along line V-V of Fig. 2.

Referring tothe drawings, I have illustrated a machine for applying lidsto boxes shown in its entirety in Fig. l, wherein the machine includes asuitable base A from which extends uprights B and C `constituting yvertical bearing members upon which a pressframe D is reciprocablymounted for movement toward and away from a nailing table E upon which abox or container to be nailed may rest. vA pair of nail driving heads Fand G, one for each side of the machine, are reciprocably mountedupon/the pressframe D for movement toward and away from the nailingtable E.

The general construction of the machine, including the ibase A, uprightsB and C, nailing table E, pressframeD and nail driving heads F and G, issubstantially identical with the corresponding parts of a box liddingmachine shown in my copending application Serial No. 739,276, led August10, 1934, in which the 'construction and operation of these parts isillustrated and described in detail.

For the purposes of this application itis deemed suicient to state thatthe nailing table E comprises a substantially rectangular frame uponwhich is mounted a pluralityof rollers I arranged upon axes extendingforwardly and rearwardly of the machine to constitute in eiect aconveyor section from which boxes may be fed into the machine from theright-hand side of the machine, as shown in Fig. 1. The boxes so fedinto the machine come to rest upon the rollers lI, the

may rest during the pressing and nailing operations to resist the forcesexerted by pressing the cover members down into contact with the boxends and then nailing the same thereto.

The pressframe D comprises, briefly, a cross head 5 which interconnectsa pair of forwardly extending brackets 6 and 1, these brackets beinginterconnected at the front end of the machine by a cross bar 8 so as toform a substantially rigid structure with the brackets 6 and 1 alignedslightly within a vertical line extending from the rollers 3 and 4.

'I'he bracket 1 is illustrated as having a horizontally extending leg 9which constitutes a bearing member upon which a plurality of nail chucksare mounted. Similarly the bracket constitutes the mounting for aplurality of nail chucks arranged on the opposite side of the machine sothat when the press frame D is. moved downwardly upon a box the nailchucks will press the ends `of the cover members down into contact withthe ends of the box ready for the nailing operations.

The pressframe D is illustrated as being connectedthrough a .connectingbar to a crankpin i2` mounted .upon a sector 'gear IS 'inthe lowerportion of the machine, the sector gear being arrangedttofbe rotatedthrough a suitable power. mechanism tobe applied to rotate a .pinionffI4' so thatas the vsector geary isk rotatedfin a counterclockwisedirection the pressframe D will be drawn down to press the cover membersinto contact'with'the box ends,and when the sector gear is'rotated in aclockwise direction the pressf frame D will be lifted back. to itsnormal elevated position, as shown in Fig. 1.

The power *mechanism employed for the reciprocating movement of thepressframe D is more particularly described in my copending applicationhereinbefore referred to, the operation thereof being under the controlof an attendant operating. the machine who has only toy press a :pedalIA extending from the front of the machine tocause the sector gear I3 tobe rotated to complete the pressing operations.

Ther nail driving heads F and G, which are interconnected Yat theirupper ends by a cross barf-lG-'and :at theiri lower ends by a cross bar|11, which latter cross bar is coupled by means of a connecting rod11|8to a crankpin I9 carried upon a crank 20 also mounted?. upon the sectorgearfl3. :butarranged' asydescribed in my copending application:hereinbefore referred to to be rotated independently of thelmovement ofthe sector gear I3 sothat when the pressframe D has been. drawn downtopress the cover members into contact withA the vbox ends themovementofthe. crank 2|! without rotating will likewise draw the. naildrivingheads F and G downwardly in synchronism with the pressframe, butwhen` the pressing operation has been completed `the crank 2U may thenbe rotated to further thefchucks lil-to drive the nails, Acompleting thelidding `operation.

This last `movement ofthe nail driving heads F andfG is accomplished.bypower derived from a motor M controlled by aV second foot pedal'22 1also mounted uponthe front end of the machine under `themanual controlof the person operating the machine. Again the details of the mechanism-for operating the nail driving heads F and hereinbefore, and it is notdeemed necessary to repeat the same in this application except to pointout that the operation of the machine is that a box placed upon thenailing table E will receive a cover by rst downward movement of thepressframe D and nail driving heads F and G to perform the pressingoperations and then the nail driving heads F and G will be furtheroperated to drive the nails Athrough the chucks to complete the nailingoperations.

As will be understood by those skilled in this art, the crates, boxes orcontainers to be covered are most readily covered by means of three ormore relativelythin strips of wood which are arranged across .the top ofthe box in substantially evenl spa'cing.;rather than to use covers whichare already assembled of a plurality of strips connected together bymeans of cleats.

This` is particularly true with products such as cantaloupes wherein thewidths of the boxes for variousztypesof cantaloupes will vary withinconsiderably Wide limits so that proper positioning of the three coverstrips on one width of box wouldi'not-conform with the proper spacingofthe strips on boxes which are wider or narrower; For this purpose itis'necessary to mount the nail driving mechanisms so that they can bevshifted forwardly and rearwardly of the machine to adapt themfordiierently spaced cover strips.4

In order to accomplish'this result and to permit the ready shifting ofposition of the nail driving mechanisms, each of the nail drivingmechanisms may beV constructed as a unit including the chuck-I0 which'isadapted to receive and hold two nails together with a pairof nailvdriving rods or plungers 2| reciprocably mounted in the chucksv I0.Thus by sliding the chucks IB 'transversely of the machine the twonailscarriedthereby maybe properly aligned in any position to which itis desired to place one of the cover strips.

By referring particularly to Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5, it will be observedthat the chucks l0 include a casting 24 constituting the body of thenail chuck to which'may be secured a pair of movable straps 25 held inplace by means of springs 2B; one for each of the nails employed in thechucks. The casting 24 is illustrated as having.

a tongue 21 (Figs. 2 and 4) extending laterally therefrom'to be receivedin a groove 28 (Fig. 3) which extendsv longitudinally of the leg 9 on.the pressframe bracket 1 so that the tongue 21 and groove 28 constitutea slide mounting. for the entire chuck and nail plunger assembly. Thenail chuck assembly is secured in place in the slot 28 `by means of abacking plate 29 secured to the chuck I0 'by bolts 30 so that the plate29 and chuck assembly will move as a unit.

The nail punches for each of the chuck assemblies I6 are illustrated ashaving formed upon their upper ends .enlarged heads 3| (Fig. 4) engagingthe underneath side of a longitudinally extending plate 32 secured tothe nail driving head G. A second longitudinally extending plate 33 may.be provided having an angularly extending i'lange to engage theunderneath side of the enlarged head 3| Yof the nail plungers so thatwhile the nail plunger 3| may slide relative to the naildriving head 6the plate 33 will prevent disengagement vof the plungers from the headG.

By' referring particularly to Figs. 2 and 3 it will be observed that therearmost chuck l0 (that is the chuck assembly nearest the 'uprights' Band C of the machine) may be initially adjusted to any desired position,adapting it to the spacing desired between the rear side edge of the boxand the rearmost cover strip, and when so adjusted it may be rigidlysecured in place since' irrespective of the Width of the box this chuckwill always be aligned in the proper position for securing the rearmostcover strip to the box. The remaining chuck assemblies, however, must bemounted so as to slide forwardly andl rearwardly of the machine toproperly space the other slats which are to be secured to the box, andin order to accomplish this sliding movement I provide a shaft 34 (Figs.2 and 3) journaled near each of its ends in a bearing member 35 (Fig. 2)supported by longitudinally extending braces 36 mounted upon thepressframe D, veach of the outer ends of the shaft 34 having a crank-arm31 rigidly secured thereto and extending downwardly therefrom. LThecrank 31 has connected thereto a link 38 the opposite end 39 of the linkbeing secured to the backing plate 29'of the intermediate chuck assemblyIll. In like manner a link 40 connects to the outer end of the crank 31and to the backing plate 29 of the foremost chuck assembly lll.

By properly spacing the connection of the links 38 and 40 upon the crank31, it will be apparent that rotational movement of the crank 31 willslide both of the chuck assemblies, but will upon any given movement ofthe crank 31 slide the intermediate chuck assembly only one-half of thedistance through which the foremost chuck assembly is moved. Thus byrotating the shaft 34 by means of a suitable handle 4| the intermediatechuck will be spaced a predetermined distance from the rearmost chuckassembly H),` while, at the same time, the foremost chuck assembly willbe spaced from the intermediate chuck assembly by an equal amount. Thehandle 4| is illustrated as oper-ating adjacent to a quadrant 42 whichis provided with a plurality of notches 43 into which a pawl 44 may beengaged, the spacing of the notches 43 along the quadrant being selectedto conform with the proper spacing fora plurality of different widths ofboxes encountered in the use of the machine.

Thus when a person operating the machine knows that a box ofpredetermined width is fed into the machine, he may move the handle 4|into the proper notch 43 to insure the proper spacing of the nail chuckassemblies for that particular sized box,`whi1e if the next box is ofldiiferent width he may then move the handle 4| into the notchcorresponding to that width of box.

Since the covers are to be formed of a plurality of separate strips orslats, some means should be provided to support these individual stripsupon their chuck assemblies immediately before and during the pressingand nailing operations, and to accomplish this I provide Slat-holdingmechanisms for each of the chucks. These slatholding mechanisms areparticularly illustrated in Figs. 2 and 5 -as comprising a pair of shortmetal plates 45 and 46 spaced from each other by suitable spacing blocks41.

Between the plates 45 and 46 are a pair of slat-engaging dogs 48 and 49,these dogs being pivoted upon suitable shafts 50 extending through theplates 45 and 46.

By referring particularly to Fig. it will be observed that the dog 48has al Slat-holding4 point or edge 5| formed thereon extending towardthe front of the machine, while a similar edge- 52 is formed uponthedog" 49, and that the dog 4911s normally urged by means of a spring 53toward the dog 48. Thus vthe slats may be placed in the machine ingroups of three by having the operator of the machine take up a ,groupof threev group of slats forwardly along the under surface of the plates45 and 46. As the group of slats is thus manually moved forwardly, thetopmost slat will engage the dog 48 and swing'the same about its pivotso'that the top'slat will slide along the lower surface of the plates 45and '46 until the f rear. edge of the Slat has passed the dog 48. The

dog 48 will then fall behind the uppermost slat. At the same time theforward edge of the topmost slat will engage the knife-edge 52 of thefront dog 49 and-will swing the dog in a clockwise direction until thedog 48 has fallen behind the slat at which time the spring 53 will swingthe dog 49 rearwardly of the machine to press the topmost slat backagainst the dog 48. A stop pin 55 is arranged immediately behind the dog48 so that the spring 53 will always move the slat back to apredetermined position. Similarly, stop pins 56 and 51 may be providedto engage an extending ear 58 on the dog 49 and limit the movement ofthis'dog during'its retracting and,

Slat-engaging movements. v

It will be observed from an inspection of Fig. 5 that the dogs 48 and 49extend below the plates 45 and 46 a distance substantially` less thanthe thickness of one of the slats'so that when the topmost slat hasbeen` engaged by its dog 'the` 59 slidably mounted in a box-like housing68' constituting a portion of a laterally extending arm 6| which may beattached to or formed integrally with a backing plate 29 of the chuckassembly with which it is associated. A pair of springs 62 engaging pins63 and 64 normally urgesv the slat-holding mechanism `downwardlyso thatthe slats may be inserted in the machine without interference with thechuck portions of the chuck assemblies I0, but when the pressframe Dmoves downwardly to press the slats into engagement with the ends of thebox the Slat-holders may be retracted upwardly to automatically alignthemselves with the alignment taken bythe slats as they are pressed intoengagement vwith the box.

In order to insure a relatively flat surface from which all of the slatsmay be drawn in placing them into the machine, I prefer to stagger theSlat-holding mechanisms, -as indicated` particu larly in Fig. 2, whereinthe Slat-holding mech. anism associated with the foremost chuck assemblyand that associated with the rearmost chuck assembly are in vverticalalignment with each other, while the Slat-holding mechanism associatedwith the intermediate chuck assemholders. H

It will a also be observed that the lengthof the plates 45:`and 46-'foreach ofthe slat-holding mechanisms is such that they:.slightly overlapthe plates of the adjacent chuck holding assemblies, thus providing acontinuous horizontal line against which the slats may be held duringthe time they are placed in the machine.

If desired, a'stop rod 65 'may be provided upon the rearmost chuckassembly to constitute a `positive stop against which the operator mayplace all of the slats prior to drawing them for-` ward` fordistribution to the several slat-holders.

As isillustrated particularlyliin Fig.v 2, identical constructions ofslat-holders andchuCk assemblies are provided upon opposite sides of themachine so that theY slatswill be engaged-and held at both their endsand -uponthe movements ofthe pressframe D and nail driving heads FandnGboth ends of eachof. the ;slats will be nailedpto the box `orcontainerwupon which the machine operates. I

The machine constructed in accordance with the foregoing-description,operates as follows: 'Ihe operator of the ymachine will take a group ofthree slats, place themr at the-rear of the ma-v chine'under therearmost chucks, and draw the same forwardly to cause the dogs 41 and 48to grasp and hold one of thesei slats immediatelyl beloweach of thechucks. box into the machine, across. the rollers I of the nailing tableE, until the nailing tableI is-properly centered beneath thepressframe Dand the nail driving heads F and G. f. He then notes the size of the boxwhich hasfbeen drawn into'the machine, and if it is different in width,from the box-which has been previouslynailed in the machine, he graspsthe handle 4|"of the shaft 34-and moves this'handle to the properposition to accuratelyfand-'equally space the slats to t the new'size ofbox.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that" in `mostinstances the difference in the width of' the box will not requiredifferences in the width of the slats, but will merelyl re-` quire thespacing of the slats closer together or further apart in order tohavefthe slats adequately cover the upper face of the box for thepurpose of holding thecontents-within Ythe* box. Thus the rearmost nailchuck may remain in the same position irrespective of the Width ofv thebox which is to be liddedgthe rearmost slat being spaced the samedistance from the side edges of the box irrespective of the sizeof thebox. Thus it is only necessary to move the middle slat a predetermineddistance away from theA rearmost slat and to move the foremost slat avpredetermined distance away from the middle slat until the forward edgeof the forward slat is aligned at approximately the same distance fromthe front side of the box as the rearmost slat is `placed from the rearof the box. This arrangement will space the slats equal distances apartacross the box.

The operator may 'then cause the machine to perform its function ofpressing the lids down into place upon the contents of the box until theends of the slats contact the ends of the box` ready for nailing, andthen nail the slats to` the box ends. This is accomplished by the opera*tors pressing on the pedal I5 which operates the motor M to rotate thesector gear I3 until the connecting bar I I draws the pressframe withthe nail chucks downwardly toward the box,-

He then draws ya ama-Ma blyfislfspaced laterally1 of theiivrst-named:slat-M whichf'isinow': resting ron-:the :nailing 'itablef it",I

untilfthe slat-.ends'have 'been pressed '.down into contact with theendsof the box. The operator then. steps upon the pedal. 22, whichcauses' the motor Mto draw the connecting rod :I8 down. Wardly todraw'the nail 'drivingheads F and G down,: to press the nail vpunches.through the chucks tor drive Vthe nails through the ends ofv theslatsinto the box ends to secure the slats to the box. After the nailingoperation is complete, the nail driving -heads Ev and F and thepressframe maybe elevated to freethe box, allowing the box to be movedout of the machine andthe Voperator'then inserts three more slats, readyfor-the reception of the next. box.

It will therefore be apparent that I have provided -a mounting for thenail chuck assemblies for. machines of the character set forth, whichwill-*1 permit the'same` to be vreadily adjusted to any desiredpositionto accommodate any one of the various widths of box to be operated uponby the, machine, while, at the same time holding mechanism4 for theindividual strips or slats forming the 'covers of boxes may be readilyplaced in the machine, and by the movement of the chuck assemblies beaccurately aligned in the proper and evenly spaced positions necessary'to adapt them for any width of box.

It will alsofbe apparent that'while I have described the machineand itsoperating, mechanism as particularly adapted to'apply covers to boxes,the nail chuck and nail ldriving mechanism assemblies, together'with theslat-holding assemblies, may readily be adapted tothe manufacture ofboxes,rcrates, and the like. y

While I have shown and ldescribed the preferred embodiment ofmyinvention, Ido not wish'to beA limited to any of the details ofconstruction shownk herein, lexceptas dened in the appended claims.

I claim: K

1. In a machine for applying a series of wood strips asa cover to a box,a nailing table for supporting a box ready to receive said strips, anailing head for eachend of said box extending across said nailing tablein alignment with the ends ofa box on said nailing table; nail drivingunits-associated with each of'said nailing heads, one for each of thestrips employed to cover a singlef box, means xedly mounting one of'said nail driving 'units on each of said headsina predeterminedalignment relativeto ythe rear of said nailing table to nail therearmost strip in saidbox, means mounting the others of said naildrivingunits for sliding movement relative to saidfixed nailing units, arotatable'shaft extending betweensaid nailing heads and having anv armthereon for eachof saidnailing heads, said arms being rigidly attachedto said shaft for rotation therewith, a separate link connecting eachofsaid sliding naildriving, unitsV associated with each of saidheadswiththe arm associated with the respectivev head, and engaging said ,arm atsuch distances from said shaft that movement of said arm in' response torotation of said shaft will move said sliding nail driving unitsrelative to said fixed unit but. maintaining equal spacing between allof the nail driving units associated with'each of Vsaid heads, andmanual means for rotating said-shaft to adjust the position of said naildriving units to adapt'them to nail slats at equal distances from eachother across a box in accordance with the width of said box. y

2.*In amachine for applying a series of wood stripsas a cover-to a box,anailing table for supporting la lbox ready to receive said strips, a

' predetermined fixed relationr to the rear side of nailing head foreach end of said box extending across said nailing table in alignmentwith the ends of a box on said nailing table; nail driving unitsassociated with each of said nailing heads, one for each of the stripsemployed to cover a single box, means xedly mounting one of said naildriving units on each of said heads in a predetermined alignmentrelative to the rear of said nailing table to nail the rearmost strip inpredetermined xed relation to the rear. side of said box, means mountingthe others of said nail said sliding nail driving units relative tosaid' fixed unit but maintaining equal spacing between all of the naildriving units associated with each of said heads, and manually operablemeans for moving said shaft to any one of a plurality of positions toequally space said nail driving units to drive nails through slatsequally spaced across the Width of any one of a plurality of boxes ofdiierent widths, and means associated with said manual means for fixingthe location of said manual means when said nail driving units areadjusted for boxes of any one of a plurality of widths.

3. In a machine for applying a series of wood strips as a cover to abox, a nailing table for supporting a, box ready to receive said strips,a nailing head for each end of said box, extending across said nailingtable in alignment with the ends of a box on said nailing table, naildriving units associated with each of said nailing heads, eachsupporting one of said strips, means iixedly mounting one of said naildriving units on each of said heads in a predetermined alignmentrelative to the rear of said nailing table to nail the rearmost strip inpredetermined xed relation, to the rear side of said box, means mountingthe others of said nail driving units for sliding movement relative tosaid xed nail driving unit, a shaft extending between said nailingheads, a

separate link connecting each of said sliding nail driving unitsassociated with each of said heads with the lever associated with therespective head engaging said lever at such distances from said shaftthat movement of said lever will move said sliding nail driving unitsrelative to said fixed nail driving unit but maintain equal spacingbetween all of said nail driving units associated with each of saidheads, and a handle on said shaft by which said shaft may be rotatedtoany one of a plurality of positions to equally space the said stripsequal distances from each other across a box in accordance with thewidth of said box.

4. In a machine for applying a series of'wood strips as a. cover to abox, a nailing table for supporting a box ready to receive said strips,a nailing head for each end offsaid box, extending across said nailingtable in alignment with the ends of a box on said nailing table, naildriving units associated with each of said nailing heads, eachsupporting one of said strips, means iixedly mounting one of said naildriving units on each of said heads in a predetermined alignment relative to the rear of said nailing table to nail the rearmost strip inpredetermined fixed relation, to the rear side of said box, meansmounting the others of said nail driving units for sliding movementrelative to said fixed nail driving unit, a shaft extending betwieensaid nailing heads, a separate link connecting each of said sliding naildriving units associated with each of said heads with the leverassociated with the respective head engaging said lever at suchdistances from said shaft that movement of said lever will move saidsliding naildriving units relative to said xed nail driving unit butmaintain equal spacing between all of said nail driving units associatedwith each of said heads, a handle on said shaft, and a quadrant mountedstationarily relative to said shaft and having means thereon forengaging said handle in any one of a plurality of positions of saidhandle whereby an operator may move said handle to any one of saidpositions to adjust said nail driving units to space the strips equaldistances from each other across a box in accordance with the width ofsaid box.

HERBERT E. TWOMLEY.

